Tired Of That Dry Chicken? These 3 Hacks To Cook Juicy Chicken Breasts Will Change Your Life

If you're someone who seriously trains for aesthetics, strength or any sort of sports performance, optimal protein intake is a must for your endeavor. As a fitness coach, I highly recommend chicken breast as a staple for protein in the diet. It's easy to cook plus it's a lean source of protein (23g protein per 100g with 1g fat & 0 carbs). Also, it is more cost-effective than consuming egg whites. The problem is that a lot of people overcook their chicken breast and end up making it hard, tasteless and dry. I will give you 3 super easy ways to cook chicken breast that is juicy and delicious to eat. It will also give you some meal ideas for your everyday diet.

1) Schezwan Chicken Rice

Take about 150g of chicken breast and dice it into small pieces. Take 50-70g white rice and after properly cleaning it, pour it into a pressure cooker along with diced chicken breast. Add 3 bowls water, ½ teaspoon of red pepper, 1 teaspoon of salt and cover the lid. Turn the gas on medium flame and let the rice and chicken cook for 12/15 mins, nearly about 4 whistles of the cooker. Once it is done, place a pan on high flame, drop around 1 teaspoon oil and stir fry some onions, garlic and green vegetables (capsicums, beans, broccoli), now pour the rice and chicken mix over the pan and stir well. At last, add around a ½ a packet of Schezwan Rice Masala (you can easily buy this from any general store) and a few droplets of water over the pan, stir and mix properly for 5, ensuring that the rice turns red.

2)Chicken Breast Sandwiches

I like to consume this meal after a workout. Take about 100g of chicken breast, cut it into medium pieces and throw it inside a grinder. Weird right? But trust me this recipe really cooks your chicken breast well. Drop some oil, salt (½ teaspoon), black pepper (1 teaspoon), grated cheese and oregano (optional). Turn on the grinder and grind it 3-4 times. You don't want to grind so much that your chicken becomes paste. Take out the weird looking mixture over a chopping pad and cut it into 2 near rectangular patties. Heat a pan on medium flame for 2/3 mins, spread some oil and place the patty over it, and cook both the sides till they're golden brown. Toast 4 slices of multigrain bread and place your chicken between them. Due to the grinding process, the chicken's texture is altered and it cooks super quick and just melts in your mouth. Enjoy this savory meal with some ketchup and mayo.

3) Microwave(d) Chicken Breast

This is perhaps is a no-brainer and you're probably already doing it. But one major mistake most people make is cooking their chicken breast in microwave mode which makes it very tough, like chewing gum. Take the chicken breast as it is and just make small cuts on top of it, marinate it with oil (5-7g), salt(1 tablespoon), curd (20g),garam masala and chicken tandoori masala.Leave it for 10/15 mins. Place it over a griller stand and put it in the microwave. Now here's the important part: use the convection + grill mode in your microwave and cook it for 18-23 minutes depending on the intensity of your microwave. The convection mode cooks the chicken breast from inside making it soft and grilling makes it crispy from the top. You wouldn't believe how delicious and juicy your chicken cooks this way in just 3 simple steps.

Yash Sharma is a former national level Football player, now a Strength Coach, Nutritionist and Natural Bodybuilder. He also runs a YouTube Channel Yash Sharma Fitness via which he aims to educate all the fitness enthusiasts to maximize their gains by methods that are backed by science and applicable easily. Connect with him on YouTube, YashSharmaFitness@gmail.com, Facebook and Instagram.